Device and/or method for adaptive computation

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for varying operations of a transponder device based, at least in part, on an availability of energy and/or power that may be harvested and/or collected. In one particular implementation, operations to generate one or more signals from sensor circuitry and/or to perform computations may be varied based, at least in part, on an availability of harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Disclosed are devices and techniques for wirelessly poweringbattery-less devices.

2. Information

Evolution of the so-called Internet-of-Things (IoT) is expected todeploy trillions of devices including battery-less devices such as, forexample, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, battery-lesssensors and/or the like. In a particular implementation, processingcircuits of such a battery-less device may be powered, at least in part,by radio frequency (RF) energy, light energy or acoustical energy and/orthe like transmitted by devices in a close proximity and collected atthe battery-less device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Claimed subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctlyclaimed in the concluding portion of the specification. However, both asto organization and/or method of operation, together with objects,features, and/or advantages thereof, it may be best understood byreference to the following detailed description if read with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a system diagram illustrating certain features of a systemcontaining one or more transponder devices, in accordance with animplementation;

FIG. 1B is a system diagram illustrating certain features of a systemcontaining one or more transponder devices, in accordance with analternative implementation;

FIG. 2A is a timing diagram illustrating a series of pulses of powersignals provided by a reader device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating features of a pulse of a power signalprovided by a reader device including a backscatter period according toan embodiment;

FIG. 2C is a timing diagram illustrating a series of pulses of powersignals provided by a reader device including some pulses that do notinclude associated backscatter periods according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are timing diagrams illustrating a series of pulses ofpower signals provided by transmission device according to anembodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are timing diagrams illustrating a series of pulses ofpower signals provided by a transmission device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process for powering device to perform oneor more computations according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrating a series of pulses of a powersignal to provide collectable and/or harvestable power and/or energyaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a process for transmitting a power signal toa receiving device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an example computing system inaccordance with an implementation.

Reference is made in the following detailed description to accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designatelike parts throughout that are corresponding and/or analogous. It willbe appreciated that the figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale, such as for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration. Forexample, dimensions of some aspects may be exaggerated relative toothers. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized. Furthermore, structural and/or other changes may be madewithout departing from claimed subject matter. References throughoutthis specification to “claimed subject matter” refer to subject matterintended to be covered by one or more claims, or any portion thereof,and are not necessarily intended to refer to a complete claim set, to aparticular combination of claim sets (e.g., method claims, apparatusclaims, etc.), or to a particular claim. It should also be noted thatdirections and/or references, for example, such as up, down, top,bottom, and so on, may be used to facilitate discussion of drawings andare not intended to restrict application of claimed subject matter.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken tolimit claimed subject matter and/or equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References throughout this specification to one implementation, animplementation, one embodiment, an embodiment and/or the like means thata particular feature, structure, and/or characteristic described inconnection with a particular implementation and/or embodiment isincluded in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimedsubject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarilyintended to refer to the same implementation or to any one particularimplementation described. Furthermore, it is to be understood thatparticular features, structures, and/or characteristics described arecapable of being combined in various ways in one or more implementationsand, therefore, are within intended claim scope, for example. Ingeneral, of course, these and other issues vary with context. Therefore,particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidanceregarding inferences to be drawn.

According to an embodiment, radio frequency identification (RFID)schemes may enable asymmetric communications between reader devices andvery inexpensive, battery-less RFID tags. In an implementation, abattery-less RFID tag may collect and/or harvest and reflect RF energyand/or power emitted from such reader devices. While some battery-lessRFID tags may merely provide a signal that indicates an identity of anobject associated with and/or co-located with such battery-less RFIDtags, more advanced battery-less RFID tags may additionally haveprocessing functionality. For example, some battery-less RFID tags maycomprise more complete Computational-RFID (CRFID) tags having advancedembedded processing capabilities while operating within particular powerand/or cost constraints. Additionally, some battery-less RFID tags withadvanced processing capabilities may be capable of operating withintermittent collectable incoming power, relying on lower power embeddednon-volatile memory technologies such as magnetic random access memory(MRAM) and/or correlated electron random access memory (CeRAM)technologies.

According to an embodiment, a transponder device (e.g., an RFID tag) maycollect and/or harvest radio frequency (RF) energy transmitted from anRF signal source (e.g., reader device) for use in powering one or morefunctions (e.g., sensing, computing and/or signal transmission). In aparticular implementation, a reader device may transmit an RF powersignal as a pulse waveform having a particular period and duty cycle. Anavailability of collectable and/or harvestable RF power and/or energyreceived at a transponder device from such a pulse waveform may depend,at least in part, on a range separating such the transponder device anda reader device, a transmission power of the pulse waveform and/or aduration of a pulse in the pulse waveform.

According to an embodiment, a reader device may operate within powerand/or energy consumption constraints and, consequently, may varytransmission of a pulse waveform RF signal providing harvestable and/orcollectable power and/or energy to a transponder device. For example, areader device may reduce a transmission power, pulse duration and/orpulse repetition frequency to reduce consumption of power and/or energyat the reader device. As such, an amount of incident collectable and/orharvestable RF power and/or energy received at a transponder device maybe reduced to a level that does not enable fully powering functions(e.g., the aforementioned sensing, computing and/or signal transmissionfunctions) to an extent desired. According to an embodiment, atransponder device may adapt its functions that consume harvestableand/or collectable power and/or energy responsive at least in part to anavailability of incident collectable and/or harvestable RF power and/orenergy. This may, for example, enable such a transponder device toflexibly tailor and/or optimize its operational effectiveness whilepower/energy saving measures are in effect at a reader device that is toprovide RF power and/or energy to the transponder device.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating certain features of a system100 containing one or more compute-enabled transponder devices 104, inaccordance with an implementation. In the currently illustratedembodiment, a reader device 102 may transmit a radio frequency (RF)signal 110 to one or more transponder devices 104 wherein energy of RFsignal 110 harvested and/or collected at an antenna 108 may be used topower one or more capabilities of such a transponder device 104. In someembodiments, a transponder device 104 may reflect and/or backscatter aportion of RF signal 110 back to reader 102 and modulate the reflectedand/or backscattered portion of RF signal 110 by detectable symbolsand/or parameters (e.g., an identifier of an object associated withand/or co-located with a transponder device 104). Additionally, atransponder device 104 may harvest and/or collect energy received fromRF signal 110 for use in powering one or more subsystems of transponderdevice 104 (e.g., one or more processors, memory, sensors, transceiverdevices, display devices, etc., not shown). For example, in addition tohaving an antenna 108, a transponder device 104 may comprise resonatingcircuitry and/or structures, charge storage devices (e.g., capacitors)and/or the like to harvest and/or collect energy from a portion of RFsignal 110 received at antenna 108. Operating without a chemical batterypower source, a transponder device 104 may from time-to-time harvestand/or collect energy of RF signal 110 to, for example, power embeddedprocessing capabilities such as embedded processing capabilities of aCRFID tag. In a particular implementation, reader 102 may transmit RFsignal 110 to multiple (e.g., up to 100 or more) transponder devices 104to, for example, provide power that is harvestable and/or collectable atantenna 108.

In an embodiment, reader device 102 and a transponder device 104 maycommunicate bidirectionally in that reader device 102 may transmitmessages to transponder devices 104 in a downlink signal (e.g., RFsignal 110) and transponder devices 104 may transmit messages to readerdevice 102 in an uplink signal 122. In one example, uplink signal 122may comprise, for example, a signal indicating and/or expressing anidentifier of a corresponding transponder device 104 and/or objectco-located with such a corresponding transponder device 104. In anembodiment, uplink signal 122 may comprise a reflection of RF signal 110that has been modulated with parameters and/or symbols to be detectedand/or recovered at reader device 102. In one embodiment, downlinksignal 124 may at least in part comprise a modulation of RF signal 110control signals. In particular implementations, a reader device 102 anda transponder device 104 may exchange messages in a downlink signal 124and an uplink signal 122 according to one or more signal messagingformats set forth in one or more ISO/IES 18000 conventions.

In other examples in which a transponder device 104 comprises moreadvanced sensing and/or processing capabilities (e.g., as a CRFID tag),uplink signal 122 may comprise more robust messaging such as, forexample, sensor measurements and/or values computed based, at least inpart, on sensor measurements.

In an embodiment, reader device 102 may transmit RF signal 110 at an RFsignal power level of about one to two watts and comprise a low voltageand/or battery operated device operating within a limited power budgetsuch as, for example, ten watts. In addition to powering a transceiverdevice (not shown) to transmit RF signal 110 and process receivedsignals transmitted from transponder devices 104, reader device 102 maycomprise a single board computer hosting a real-time operating system(e.g., Linux) to enable, for example, Internet access (e.g., via network130) and to perform device management.

In some implementations, reader device 102 may be installed in awarehouse or retail environment such that reader device 102 may remainpowered continuously to service a dense deployment of transponderdevices 104. In an alternative implementation in which up to a trilliontransponder devices 104 may be more sparsely deployed (e.g., over homes,hospitals, metropolitan areas, etc.), a locally deployed individualreader device 102 may service a smaller local deployment of devices, andmay not be continuously powered (e.g., periodically powered up andpowered down) to conserve energy. However, if such an individual readerdevice 102 is powered down or powered off (e.g., no transmission of RFsignal 110 of sufficient signal strength to provide harvestable and/orcollectable energy at a transponder device 104), no power and/or energymay be collected and/or harvested at transponder devices 104 in range ofan RF signal source (e.g., reader device 102). As such, while readerdevice 102 is powered down or off, transponder devices 104 may not becapable of collecting and/or harvesting sufficient energy to supportadvanced processing capabilities (e.g., as CRFID tags). In one exampleimplementation, RF signal 110 may be transmitted as a continuouswaveform (e.g., sinusoidal waveform) having a pulse envelope. If readerdevice 102 is powered down or off, such a pulse envelope may be at orabout a zero level such that signal power received at a transponderdevice is negligible.

According to an embodiment, an intensity of collectable and/orharvestable power received at an antenna 108 of a transponder device 104from transmission of RF signal 110 may be determined based, at least inpart, on a power level at which reader device 102 transmits RF signal110 and other factors including, for example, a range and/or distancebetween reader device 102 and such a transponder device 104, deviationsfrom line-of-sight transmissions, presence of multi-path, presence of RFshadows from other transponder devices 104, just to provide a fewexamples of such additional factors. In a particular implementation,reader device 102 may not be aware of such additional factors and alsomay not be aware an amount of collectable energy and/or power that wouldbe sufficient to power functions (e.g., computing, sensing, processingsensor signals and/or message/signal transmission) of such a transponderdevice 104. On the other hand, a transponder device 104 may be capableof measuring collectable and/or harvestable power received from RFsignal 110 and determining collectable energy and/or power sufficient topower functions of such a transponder device 104.

According to an embodiment, as reader device 102 varies an availabilityof harvestable and/or collectable power and/or energy to be incident attransponder device 104 (e.g., by varying a duration of pulses RF signal110), transponder device may vary one or more functions to be powered bysuch incident power and/or energy. For example, with a reduction in anavailability of incident harvestable and/or collectable power and/orenergy (e.g., from a shortened pulse of RF signal 110), transponderdevice may correspondingly adjust functions that are to be powered bythe reduced incident power and/or energy.

In the particular implementation of FIG. 1A, for simplicity ofillustration system 100 includes multiple transponder devices 104 toreceive an RF signal 110 from a single reader device 102. It should beunderstood that in other implementations as in system 101 of FIG. 1B, atransponder 104 may communicate with and/or receive an RF signal from(e.g., to provide harvestable and/or collectable power) multipledifferent reader devices 102. Additionally, as shown in system 101, atransponder device 104 may receive an RF signal from one or more powerbeacon devices 103 that are dedicated to providing a harvestable and/orcollectable power from an RF signal (e.g., without uplink and downlinkmessaging).

While particular example implementations discussed with reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B are directed to use of an RF signal to providecollectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy to a transponderdevice, it should be understood that an RF signal is merely an examplepower signal, that embodiments described herein may applicable to use ofdifferent types of signals to deliver incident power, and claimedsubject matter is not limited in this respect. For example, a powersignal may comprise, for example, collectable and/or harvestable signalpower and/or energy in the form of an RF power signal, light powersignal (e.g., IR) and/or acoustical power signal, just to provide a fewexamples.

According to an embodiment, a transmitting device (e.g., reader device102 or power beacon device 103) may predetermine a schedule fortransmission of a power signal (e.g., to be incident at a reader deviceto provide collectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy). In thiscontext, a “schedule” as referred to herein means a predetermined timingof at least one aspect of transmission of a signal. In oneimplementation, a schedule may determine timing of pulses in a pulsedenvelope of a continuous waveform signal. For example, a schedule fortransmission of an RF power signal may at least in part specify arepeating period for transmission of a pulse waveform and a duty cycle.

As pointed out above, a transmitting device (e.g., reader device 102 orpower beacon device 103) may comprise a low voltage and/or batteryoperated device operating within a limited power budget to operate underlower power constraints. As such, such a transmitting device maydetermine a schedule for transmission of a power signal in accordancewith factors such as an average power budget, an expected remainingbattery life and/or additional functionality to be enabled by aremaining power/energy resource, just to provide a few examples.

FIG. 2A is a timing diagram illustrating a series of pulses of powersignals provided by a reader device according to an embodiment. In aparticular implementation, a first device (e.g., reader device 102) maytransmit a pulse waveform at a particular transmission power, pulseduration, duty cycle, pulse period and/or pulse repetition frequency.According to an embodiment, information collected and/or computationsbased on collected information may be obtained, controlled and/or“owned” by different parties such as, for example, a retailer ofproducts (e.g., perishable products having shelf life) or a serviceprovider that facilitates collection of information and/or computationsbased on collected information. As pointed out above, such a transmittedpulse waveform may provide to a second device (e.g., transponder 104) anincident power signal having collectable and/or harvestable energyand/or power that may be consumed at the second device to perform one ormore functions. An incident power signal received by such a seconddevice may be collected and/or harvested to provide power and/or energyenabling the second device to perform computing operations. Such anincident power signal may enable such a second device to power one ormore subsystems from signal energy collected and/or harvested from theincident power signal. Such subsystems may comprise devices of atransponder device (e.g., transponder device 104) such as, for example,sensors, circuitry for conditioning sensor signals, analog-to-digitalcircuitry for sampling conditioned sensor signals, processors andnon-volatile memory for processing sensor signals and performing relatedcomputations, RF circuitry for transmitting and receiving messages, justto provide a few examples of subsystems at a transponder device that maybe powered from power and/or energy collected and/or harvested from areceived incident power signal.

According to an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2B, different actionsmay be performed by such a first device transmitting a pulse waveformand a second device receiving the pulse waveform over a duration of apulse 202 in a pulse waveform shown in FIG. 2A. Over an initial portionof pulse 202, a first device may transmit one or more messages (e.g., asspecially formatted signal packets) over a “communicate” portion ofpulse 202 to a receiving second device. Such a “communicate” portion ofpulse 202 may at least in part implement a downlink signal (e.g.,downlink signal 124, FIG. 1A). Over a duration of pulse 202 incident ona second device, the second device may collect and/or harvest powerand/or energy to be used in powering one or more functions to beperformed at the second device. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2B suchcollected and/or harvested power and/or energy may power sensing,computing and/or backscattering functions, just to provide a fewexamples.

As shown in FIG. 2B, during a “sensor acquisition” portion, a seconddevice may collect observations, samples and/or measurements based onone or more signals generated by one or more sensors (e.g., atmosphericpressure sensor, humidity sensor, light sensor and/or temperaturesensor) at a second device collecting and/or harvesting power and/orenergy from pulse 202. During a “compute” portion of pulse 202, such asecond device may perform one or more computations such as, for example,computations to process samples, observations and/or measurements basedon sensor signals obtained during a “sensor acquisition” portion. Suchcomputations may comprise, for example, a statistical analysis ofobservations and/or measurements based on sensor signals (e.g., mean,standard deviation and/or computation quality metrics). As shown in FIG.2B, sensor acquisition and compute portions may overlap over a portionof pulse 202. Also, FIG. 2B shows a “backscatter” period that follows acompute portion in pulse 202 in which a second receiving pulse 202 maymodulate a reflected signal based, at least part, on a message to betransmitted back to a first device transmitting pulse 202. Such amessage modulating a reflected signal may comprise a specially formattedsignal packet to contain computing results determined and/or obtainedduring the “compute” period. In an embodiment, such a backscatter periodmay comprise an implementation of an uplink signal (e.g. uplink signal122, FIG. 1A).

In the particular implementation of FIG. 2C, pulses 204 and 208 to beincident at a device may include “communicate” and “backscatter”portions to support bi-directional communication (e.g., transmission ofa message in “communicate” portion to implement an uplink signal andmodulation of a reflection of received pulse energy in a “backscatter”portion to implement a downlink signal). As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3A,3B, 4A, 4B and 6 abbreviations “S”, “C” and “B” are to mean “sense,”“compute” and “backscatter” periods of associated pulses, respectively.To conserve energy, for example, pulses 206 transmitted between pulses204 and 206 may be of a shorter duration while omitting “communicate”and “backscatter” portions provided in pulses 204 and 208. Pulses 206incident at a device may, however, provide sufficient collectable and/orharvestable power and/or energy to enable commencement of a “sensoracquisition” period followed by a “compute” portion to perform one ormore computations (e.g., to process samples, observations and/ormeasurements based, at least in part, on one or more signals generatedby one or more sensors). In one particular embodiment, results ofcomputations powered by harvesting and/or collecting power and/or energyfrom pulses 206 may be locally stored in a non-volatile memory, andtransmitted to a reader device in message modulating a backscatterportion of pulse 208 providing an uplink signal.

In one embodiment, pulses 204, 206 and 208 may be transmitted by areader device (e.g., a reader device 102) where pulses 206 are shortenedto conserve energy. In another embodiment, pulses 204 and 208 may betransmitted by a reader device while pulses 206 may be transmitted by adevice dedicated to transmitting a power signal having harvestableand/or collectable power and/or energy (e.g., power beacon device 103).

As pointed out above, a device transmitting a pulse waveform to providean incident power signal having harvestable and/or collectable powerand/or energy (e.g., reader device 102 or power beacon device 103) may,from time to time, operate under reduced power and/or energyconstraints. As pointed out above, to reduce power and/or a rate ofconsumption of energy, such a device may reduce an intensity and/orduration of a pulse in such a pulse waveform. As shown in FIG. 3A,pulses 302 and 308 may be transmitted at a sufficient duration and/orintensity to provide sufficient harvestable and/or collectable powerand/or energy incident at a receiving device to enable associatedfunctions during “communicate”, “sense”, “compute” and “backscatter”portions. Pulse 306 may have an intensity and/or duration to providesufficient harvestable and/or collectable power and/or energy incidentat a receiving device to enable the receiving device to perform “sense”and “compute” functions. To consume less energy and/or power at atransmitting device, pulse 304 may be shorter and/or have a lowerintensity than pulse 306. Pulse 304 may provide sufficient harvestableand/or collectable energy and/or power incident at a receiving to enablethe receiving device to perform a “sense” function. However, pulse 304may not deliver sufficient harvestable and/or collectable energy and/orpower incident at a receiving to enable the receiving device to performa “compute” function (e.g., in addition to a “sense” function). In anexample implementation, samples, observations and/or measurementscollected in a “sense” function powered by harvestable and/orcollectable energy and/or power in pulse 304 may be stored (e.g., in anon-volatile memory device). Such stored samples, observations and/ormeasurements may then be processed (e.g., along with samples,observations and/or measurements collected in a “sense” function poweredby harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power in pulse 306)during a “compute” function powered by incident harvestable and/orcollectable energy and/or power in pulse 306. At least partial resultsof processing at a “compute” function powered by harvestable and/orcollectable energy and/or power in pulse 306 may then be stored in anon-volatile memory device, and then transmitted in a message modulatinga signal during a “backscatter” function powered by harvestable and/orcollectable energy and/or power in pulse 308, for example. In additionto at least partial results of processing at a “compute” functionpowered by harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power in pulse306, a state of a processor (e.g., a processor used to obtain suchresults of processing) may be stored in a non-volatile memory device.

In the particular scenario of FIG. 3B, pulse 306 may be replaced bypulse 312 having a reduced a duration. Here, incident harvestable and/orcollectable energy and/or power provided by pulse 312 may be sufficientto enable a transponder device to perform a “sense” function as poweredby pulse 306. However, pulse 312 may not provide sufficient incidentpower and/or energy to enable completion of a “compute” function thatmay be powered by pulse 306. Thus, instead of performing such a complete“compute” function, a device receiving pulse 312 may perform a lesspower and/or energy intensive “compute” function (denoted by a lowercase “c”) to, for example, process samples, observations and/ormeasurements obtained during “sense” functions powered by energy and/orpower from pulses 304 and 312.

In one particular example, such a less power and/or energy intensive“compute” function (e.g., powered by pulse 312) may employ less powerand/or energy intensive arithmetic operations at a processor. Use ofsuch less power and/or energy intensive arithmetic operations maycomprise executing few iterations of a processing loop, using shortercyclic redundancy codes (e.g., CRC5 in lieu of CRC32), changingprocessor vector-length, using fixed-point operations in lieu offloating-point operations and/or using multi-cycle multiplicationoperations instead of single-cycle accelerated multiplicationoperations, just to provide a few examples. In another particularexample, such a less power and/or energy intensive “compute” functionmay employ less power and/or energy algorithm to be executed at aprocessor. Here, a “compute” function performed by a receiving devicefrom power and/or energy collected from pulse 306 may comprisecomputation of a mean and standard deviation of sample and/ormeasurement values. To reduce power and/or energy consumption, such areceiving device may perform an algorithm powered by power and/or energyfrom pulse 312 to entail fewer computations to, for example, merelyobtain a median value or a mean and/or standard deviation based on areduced number of sample and/or measurement values (e.g., based on everyother or every third sample and/or measurement value).

As discussed above, a reader device (e.g., reader device 102, FIG. 1A)may forward one or more downlink messages to a transponder device (e.g.,transponder device 104, FIG. 1A) during a “communicate” portion of apulse provided in a signal to be incident at the transponder device (andto provide collectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy). In anembodiment, such downlink messages from a reader device may comprisecommands to a transponder device where the reader device acts as a“master” device and the transponder device acts as a “slave” device.Such commands transmitted in a pulse may specify, for example how atransponder device is to perform subsequent “sense” and/or “compute”functions in the pulse (and possibly how the transponder device is toperform “sense” and/or “compute” functions in one or more subsequentpulses).

According to an embodiment, a command from a reader device in a messageprovided during a “communicate” portion of a pulse transmitted by thereader device may specify that a transponder device obtain a set numberof samples, observations and/or measurements based on one or moresignals from one or more sensors during the pulse (e.g., to maintain aparticular quality of a computed result based on the obtained samples,observations and/or measurements). As illustrated in FIG. 4A, forexample, a reader device may include a command in a message transmittedduring a “communicate” function of a pulse specifying an N=1000 numberof samples, observations and/or measurements to be obtained in a “sense”function and processed in a “compute” function powered by the pulse. Acomputing result may then be returned in a message modulating a signaltransmitted in a “backscatter” function powered by the pulse.

While pulses in a waveform may be transmitted by a reader device in aset pulse period, pulse width, duty cycle and/or pulse repetitionfrequency, under certain conditions as discussed above, such a readerdevice may reduce power and/or energy to transmit a pulse havingsufficient duration to enable collection of a specified number ofsamples, observations and/or measurements at every pulse period. Forexample, while FIG. 4A shows pulses having a uniform duration toindividually provide sufficient collectable energy and/or power toobtain and process an N=1000 number of samples, observations and/ormeasurements, and communicate results in a message modulating abackscatter signal. As shown in FIG. 4A, a pulse period may be skippedin a duration 402 to, for example, reduce consumption of energy and/orpower (e.g., within an available energy and/or power budget) at a readerdevice.

According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 4B, following an initialpulse 408, a duration of subsequent pulses may be shortened to providesufficient power and/or energy to enable a transponder device to perform“sense” and “compute” functions, but not sufficient power and/or energyto perform a “backscatter” function. Additionally, a downlink message ina “communicate” portion of pulse 408 may specify an N number of samples,observations and/or measurements to be obtained in a “sense” portion ofpulse 408 (e.g., N=1000 as shown) and to be obtained in a “sense”portion of pulses subsequent to pulse 408 (e.g., N=1000, 200 or 50 asshown). In an alternative implementation, a receiving device may itselfdetermine an N number of samples, observations and/or measurements to beobtained in a “sense” portion of power signal pulse and/or a level ofcomputation to be performed during a “compute” portion of a power signalpulse based, at least in part, on an expected availability ofcollectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy to be incident (e.g.,based on an expected intensity and/or pulse duration). For example, adownlink message in a “communicate” portion of pulse 408 may specify aduration and/or power level of subsequent pulses and a receiving devicemay then tailor N and/or a level of computation to be performed based,at least in part, the specified duration and/or power level of thesubsequent pulses. Alternatively, a transponder device may determine anexpected intensity and/or pulse duration independently of a downlinkmessage (e.g., based on measurements and/or heuristics), and tailor Nand/or a level of computation to be performed accordingly withinavailable harvested and/or collected power and/or energy. In anotherimplementation, a downlink message in a “communicate” portion of pulse408 from a reader device may specify to a transponder device an averagenumber of samples to be obtained over a duration of multiple pulses. Thetransponder device may then determine an N number of samples,observations and/or measurements for each pulse over the duration toachieve the average number of subject to an expected availability ofcollectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy to be incident duringthe pulse.

According to an embodiment, a duration in a pulse of a pulse waveformmay be further reduced so as to enable obtaining a reduced number ofsamples, observations and/or measurements during a “sense” function. Forexample, in lieu of skipping transmission of a pulse (such as skipping apulse in interval 402 as shown in FIG. 4A), durations of pulses 404 and406 may be further reduced to further reduce consumption of energyand/or power at a reader device. Here, a duration of pulse 404 mayprovide harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power to enableobtaining a total of N=200 samples, observations and/or measurements,during a “sense” function powered by pulse 404. Likewise, a duration ofpulse 406 may provide harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or powerto enable obtaining a total of N=50 samples, observations and/ormeasurements, during a “sense” function powered by pulse 406. As pointedout above, such a total of N samples to be obtained as powered by pulses404 and/or 406 may be specified as a command in a downlink message to areader device or determined at a reader device based on an expectedavailability of collectable and/or harvestable power and/or energy to beincident from pulses 404 and/or 406.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process for powering a device to performone or more computations according to an embodiment. In a particularimplementation, process 500 may be performed, in whole or in part, by atransponder device (e.g., transponder device 104). Block 502 maycomprise collecting and/or harvesting energy from an incident powersignal as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A and/or 4B, forexample. As pointed out above, one or more sensors of a transponderdevice may generate one or more signals responsive to some physicaland/or environmental phenomena (e.g., temperature, ambient light,atmospheric pressure, etc.). At block 504, for example, during receiptof a “sense” portion of an incident pulse of a power signal as describedabove with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A and/or 4B, atransponder device may obtain one or more samples, observations and/ormeasurements. Such samples, observations, samples and/or measurementsmay be obtained, for example, from one or more sensors powered by energyand/or power collected and/or harvested at block 502 (e.g., during a“sense” portion of a received power signal pulse and contemporaneouswith collection of such observations, samples and/or measurements). Atblock 506, a transponder device may perform one or more computationsbased, at least in part, on one or more signals generated at block 504.For example, a transponder may execute one or more computations poweredby power and/or energy harvested and/or collected at block 502 during a“compute” portion of an incident power signal pulse (e.g., to processsamples, observations and/or measurements may be obtained at block 504during a “sense” portion of the incident pulse.

As pointed out above, a duration of pulses in a signal provided to powerone or more subsystems of a transponder device may be varied, forexample, to reduce power and/or energy consumed at a transmitter of thesignal (e.g., reader device 102). Also as discussed above, such atransponder device may adapt and/or tailor functions to an availabilityof harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power from an incidentpower signal pulse. At block 508, for example, a transponder device mayvary computations to be performed at block 506 based, at least in part,on an availability of energy and/or power to be harvestable and/orcollectable at block 502. For example, as illustrated at pulse 312 (FIG.3B), a transponder device may employ a less power and/or energyintensive computation (e.g., at block 506) during a “compute” portion ofan incident power signal pulse by using less power and/or energyintensive arithmetic operations at a processor and/or using less powerand/or energy algorithm to be executed at a processor. Alternatively orin addition, a transponder device at block 508 may collect a reducednumber of samples, observations and/or measurements at block 504 (e.g.,during a “sense” portion of an incident power signal pulse) based, atleast in part, on an availability of energy and/or power to beharvestable and/or collectable at block 502.

As pointed out above according to a particular embodiment, a readerdevice may specify an average number of samples, observations and/ormeasurements in a “communicate” portion of pulse 408 (FIG. 4B) anaverage number of samples, observations and/or measurements to beobtained in one or more subsequent pulses. In another implementation, areader may determine that a transponder device is to obtain a particularminimum number of samples, observations and/or measurements from powerand/or energy that is to be harvested and/or collected over a singlepulse. For example, such a minimum number of samples, observationsand/or measurements may be determined to enable one or more computations(e.g., during a “compute” portion of an incident signal pulse) ofsufficient threshold quality to justify consumption of power and/orenergy at a reader device to transmit the single pulse.

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrating a series of pulses of a powersignal to provide collectable and/or harvestable power and/or energyaccording to an embodiment. An initial pulse 608 transmitted by a readerdevice a “communicate” portion may include a downlink message to atransponder device specifying a minimum number of samples, observationsand/or measurements from power and/or energy that are to be harvestedand/or collected over any single pulse in one or more subsequent pulses.

According to an embodiment, to reduce consumption of energy and/orpower, a reader device may terminate transmission of pulse 606 if it isdetermined that a recipient transponder device is not capable ofobtaining a minimum number samples, observations and/or measurementsfrom energy and/or power that would be collected and/or harvested overpulse 606 if not terminated early. In the particular example illustratedin FIG. 6, a specified minimum number of samples, observations and/ormeasurements to be collected over a pulse may be set at N_(min)=200.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an example process 700 for transmitting apower signal to a transponder device according to an embodiment. Atblock 702, a reader device may transmit a power signal to be incident ata transponder device. Such a power signal may have a profile including aseries of pulses as shown in FIG. 6, for example. At block 704, a readerdevice may pre-terminate transmission of a particular pulse in a seriesof pulses if it is determined that a transponder device receiving theparticular pulse would be incapable of achieving a particular computingresult based, at least in part, on samples, observations and/ormeasurements that would be obtainable of the particular pulse were tocomplete. Here, in the particular example, of FIG. 6, a reader devicemay pre-terminate transmission of pulse 606 at block 704 if it isdetermined that completing transmission of pulse 606 (e.g., asoriginally scheduled) would not provide sufficient collectable and/orharvestable power and/or energy incident at a transponder device for thetransponder device to obtain computations of sufficient quality. Forexample, it may be determined at block 704 that collectable and/orharvestable power and/or energy incident at a transponder device fromcomplete transmission number of pulse 606 may not be sufficient for thetransponder device to obtain a sufficient samples, observations and/ormeasurements during a “sense” portion of pulse 606 to achieve acomputing result of a minimum desired quality. Alternatively, it may bedetermined at block 704 that collectable and/or harvestable power and/orenergy incident at a transponder device from complete transmissionnumber of pulse 606 may not be sufficient for the transponder device toperform sufficient computing in a “compute” portion of pulse 606 achievea computing result of a minimum desired quality.

According to an embodiment, a reader device may implement any one ofseveral techniques at block 704 to determine that collectable and/orharvestable power and/or energy incident at a transponder device fromcomplete transmission of pulse 606 may be insufficient to enable acomputing result of a minimum desired quality. For example, a readerdevice may have previously determined an energy/power harvestingcapability of a transponder device, a range to such a transponder deviceand/or an ability of such a transponder device to complete computations(e.g., based on prior transmissions). Here, techniques at block 704 maydetermine that complete transmission of pulse 606 would be insufficientto enable a computing result of a minimum desired quality based, atleast in part on these previously determined factors. In anotherparticular scenario, a transponder device may be affected by factorsother than an availability of collectable and/or harvestable powerand/or energy or ability to harvest same. For example, a transponderchanging a processing vector length of a processor may reduce a qualityof computations. Here, a transponder device may be capable oftransmitting a current quality indicator (e.g., in an uplink message).Based, at least in part, on such a current quality indicator and/or ahistory/trend of such quality indicators, a reader device may terminatepulse 606.

It should be noted that the various circuits disclosed herein may bedescribed using computer aided design tools and expressed (orrepresented), as data and/or instructions embodied in variousmachine-readable media, in terms of their behavioral, register transfer,logic component, transistor, layout geometries, and/or othercharacteristics. Formats of files and other objects in which suchcircuit expressions may be implemented include, but are not limited to,formats supporting behavioral languages such as C, Verilog, and HLDL,formats supporting register level description languages like RTL, andformats supporting geometry description languages such as GDSII, GDSIII,GDSIV, CIF, MEBES and any other suitable formats and languages. Storagemedia in which such formatted data and/or instructions may be embodiedinclude, but are not limited to, non-volatile storage media in variousforms (e.g., optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage media) andcarrier waves that may be used to transfer such formatted data and/orinstructions through wireless, optical, or wired signaling media or anycombination thereof. Examples of transfers of such formatted data and/orinstructions by carrier waves include, but are not limited to, transfers(uploads, downloads, e-mail, etc.) over the Internet and/or othercomputer networks via one or more data transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP,FTP, SMTP, etc.).

If received within a computer system via one or more machine-readablemedia, such data and/or instruction-based expressions of the abovedescribed circuits may be processed by a processing entity (e.g., one ormore processors) within the computer system in conjunction withexecution of one or more other computer programs including, withoutlimitation, net-list generation programs, place and route programs andthe like, to generate a representation or image of a physicalmanifestation of such circuits. Such representation or image maythereafter be used in device fabrication, for example, by enablinggeneration of one or more masks that are used to form various componentsof the circuits in a device fabrication process.

In the context of the present patent application, the term “connection,”the term “component” and/or similar terms are intended to be physical,but are not necessarily always tangible. Whether or not these termsrefer to tangible subject matter, thus, may vary in a particular contextof usage. As an example, a tangible connection and/or tangibleconnection path may be made, such as by a tangible, electricalconnection, such as an electrically conductive path comprising metal orother conductor, that is able to conduct electrical current between twotangible components. Likewise, a tangible connection path may be atleast partially affected and/or controlled, such that, as is typical, atangible connection path may be open or closed, at times resulting frominfluence of one or more externally derived signals, such as externalcurrents and/or voltages, such as for an electrical switch. Non-limitingillustrations of an electrical switch include a transistor, a diode,etc. However, a “connection” and/or “component,” in a particular contextof usage, likewise, although physical, can also be non-tangible, such asa connection between a client and a server over a network, particularlya wireless network, which generally refers to the ability for the clientand server to transmit, receive, and/or exchange communications, asdiscussed in more detail later.

In a particular context of usage, such as a particular context in whichtangible components are being discussed, therefore, the terms “coupled”and “connected” are used in a manner so that the terms are notsynonymous. Similar terms may also be used in a manner in which asimilar intention is exhibited. Thus, “connected” is used to indicatethat two or more tangible components and/or the like, for example, aretangibly in direct physical contact. Thus, using the previous example,two tangible components that are electrically connected are physicallyconnected via a tangible electrical connection, as previously discussed.However, “coupled,” is used to mean that potentially two or moretangible components are tangibly in direct physical contact.Nonetheless, “coupled” is also used to mean that two or more tangiblecomponents and/or the like are not necessarily tangibly in directphysical contact, but are able to co-operate, liaise, and/or interact,such as, for example, by being “optically coupled.” Likewise, the term“coupled” is also understood to mean indirectly connected. It is furthernoted, in the context of the present patent application, since memory,such as a memory component and/or memory states, is intended to benon-transitory, the term physical, at least if used in relation tomemory necessarily implies that such memory components and/or memorystates, continuing with the example, are tangible.

Unless otherwise indicated, in the context of the present patentapplication, the term “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, orC, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, aswell as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. With thisunderstanding, “and” is used in the inclusive sense and intended to meanA, B, and C; whereas “and/or” can be used in an abundance of caution tomake clear that all of the foregoing meanings are intended, althoughsuch usage is not required. In addition, the term “one or more” and/orsimilar terms is used to describe any feature, structure,characteristic, and/or the like in the singular, “and/or” is also usedto describe a plurality and/or some other combination of features,structures, characteristics, and/or the like. Likewise, the term “basedon” and/or similar terms are understood as not necessarily intending toconvey an exhaustive list of factors, but to allow for existence ofadditional factors not necessarily expressly described.

Furthermore, it is intended, for a situation that relates toimplementation of claimed subject matter and is subject to testing,measurement, and/or specification regarding degree, that the particularsituation be understood in the following manner. As an example, in agiven situation, assume a value of a physical property is to bemeasured. If alternatively reasonable approaches to testing,measurement, and/or specification regarding degree, at least withrespect to the property, continuing with the example, is reasonablylikely to occur to one of ordinary skill, at least for implementationpurposes, claimed subject matter is intended to cover thosealternatively reasonable approaches unless otherwise expresslyindicated. As an example, if a plot of measurements over a region isproduced and implementation of claimed subject matter refers toemploying a measurement of slope over the region, but a variety ofreasonable and alternative techniques to estimate the slope over thatregion exist, claimed subject matter is intended to cover thosereasonable alternative techniques unless otherwise expressly indicated.

To the extent claimed subject matter is related to one or moreparticular measurements, such as with regard to physical manifestationscapable of being measured physically, such as, without limit,temperature, pressure, voltage, current, electromagnetic radiation,etc., it is believed that claimed subject matter does not fall withinthe abstract idea judicial exception to statutory subject matter.Rather, it is asserted, that physical measurements are not mental stepsand, likewise, are not abstract ideas.

It is noted, nonetheless, that a typical measurement model employed isthat one or more measurements may respectively comprise a sum of atleast two components. Thus, for a given measurement, for example, onecomponent may comprise a deterministic component, which in an idealsense, may comprise a physical value (e.g., sought via one or moremeasurements), often in the form of one or more signals, signal samplesand/or states, and one component may comprise a random component, whichmay have a variety of sources that may be challenging to quantify. Attimes, for example, lack of measurement precision may affect a givenmeasurement. Thus, for claimed subject matter, a statistical orstochastic model may be used in addition to a deterministic model as anapproach to identification and/or prediction regarding one or moremeasurement values that may relate to claimed subject matter.

For example, a relatively large number of measurements may be collectedto better estimate a deterministic component. Likewise, if measurementsvary, which may typically occur, it may be that some portion of avariance may be explained as a deterministic component, while someportion of a variance may be explained as a random component. Typically,it is desirable to have stochastic variance associated with measurementsbe relatively small, if feasible. That is, typically, it may bepreferable to be able to account for a reasonable portion of measurementvariation in a deterministic manner, rather than a stochastic matter asan aid to identification and/or predictability.

Along these lines, a variety of techniques have come into use so thatone or more measurements may be processed to better estimate anunderlying deterministic component, as well as to estimate potentiallyrandom components. These techniques, of course, may vary with detailssurrounding a given situation. Typically, however, more complex problemsmay involve use of more complex techniques. In this regard, as alludedto above, one or more measurements of physical manifestations may bemodelled deterministically and/or stochastically. Employing a modelpermits collected measurements to potentially be identified and/orprocessed, and/or potentially permits estimation and/or prediction of anunderlying deterministic component, for example, with respect to latermeasurements to be taken. A given estimate may not be a perfectestimate; however, in general, it is expected that on average one ormore estimates may better reflect an underlying deterministic component,for example, if random components that may be included in one or moreobtained measurements, are considered. Practically speaking, of course,it is desirable to be able to generate, such as through estimationapproaches, a physically meaningful model of processes affectingmeasurements to be taken.

In some situations, however, as indicated, potential influences may becomplex. Therefore, seeking to understand appropriate factors toconsider may be particularly challenging. In such situations, it is,therefore, not unusual to employ heuristics with respect to generatingone or more estimates. Heuristics refers to use of experience relatedapproaches that may reflect realized processes and/or realized results,such as with respect to use of historical measurements, for example.Heuristics, for example, may be employed in situations where moreanalytical approaches may be overly complex and/or nearly intractable.Thus, regarding claimed subject matter, an innovative feature mayinclude, in an example embodiment, heuristics that may be employed, forexample, to estimate and/or predict one or more measurements.

It is further noted that the terms “type” and/or “like,” if used, suchas with a feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, using“optical” or “electrical” as simple examples, means at least partiallyof and/or relating to the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or thelike in such a way that presence of minor variations, even variationsthat might otherwise not be considered fully consistent with thefeature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, do not in generalprevent the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like frombeing of a “type” and/or being “like,” (such as being an “optical-type”or being “optical-like,” for example) if the minor variations aresufficiently minor so that the feature, structure, characteristic,and/or the like would still be considered to be substantially presentwith such variations also present. Thus, continuing with this example,the terms optical-type and/or optical-like properties are necessarilyintended to include optical properties. Likewise, the termselectrical-type and/or electrical-like properties, as another example,are necessarily intended to include electrical properties. It should benoted that the specification of the present patent application merelyprovides one or more illustrative examples and claimed subject matter isintended to not be limited to one or more illustrative examples;however, again, as has always been the case with respect to thespecification of a patent application, particular context of descriptionand/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding reasonable inferencesto be drawn.

With advances in technology, it has become more typical to employdistributed computing and/or communication approaches in which portionsof a process, such as signal processing of signal samples, for example,may be allocated among various devices, including one or more clientdevices and/or one or more server devices, via a computing and/orcommunications network, for example. A network may comprise two or moredevices, such as network devices and/or computing devices, and/or maycouple devices, such as network devices and/or computing devices, sothat signal communications, such as in the form of signal packets and/orsignal frames (e.g., comprising one or more signal samples), forexample, may be exchanged, such as between a server device and/or aclient device, as well as other types of devices, including betweenwired and/or wireless devices coupled via a wired and/or wirelessnetwork, for example.

In the context of the present patent application, the term networkdevice refers to any device capable of communicating via and/or as partof a network and may comprise a computing device. While network devicesmay be capable of communicating signals (e.g., signal packets and/orframes), such as via a wired and/or wireless network, they may also becapable of performing operations associated with a computing device,such as arithmetic and/or logic operations, processing and/or storingoperations (e.g., storing signal samples), such as in memory astangible, physical memory states, and/or may, for example, operate as aserver device and/or a client device in various embodiments. Networkdevices capable of operating as a server device, a client device and/orotherwise, may include, as examples, dedicated rack-mounted servers,desktop computers, laptop computers, set top boxes, tablets, RFID readerdevices, netbooks, smart phones, wearable devices, integrated devicescombining two or more features of the foregoing devices, and/or thelike, or any combination thereof. As mentioned, signal packets and/orframes, for example, may be exchanged, such as between a server deviceand/or a client device, as well as other types of devices, includingbetween wired and/or wireless devices coupled via a wired and/orwireless network, for example, or any combination thereof. It is notedthat the terms, server, server device, server computing device, servercomputing platform and/or similar terms are used interchangeably.Similarly, the terms client, client device, client computing device,client computing platform and/or similar terms are also usedinterchangeably. While in some instances, for ease of description, theseterms may be used in the singular, such as by referring to a “clientdevice” or a “server device,” the description is intended to encompassone or more client devices and/or one or more server devices, asappropriate. Along similar lines, references to a “database” areunderstood to mean, one or more databases and/or portions thereof, asappropriate.

The term electronic file and/or the term electronic document are usedthroughout this document to refer to a set of stored memory statesand/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner so as to therebyat least logically form a file (e.g., electronic) and/or an electronicdocument. That is, it is not meant to implicitly reference a particularsyntax, format and/or approach used, for example, with respect to a setof associated memory states and/or a set of associated physical signals.If a particular type of file storage format and/or syntax, for example,is intended, it is referenced expressly. It is further noted anassociation of memory states, for example, may be in a logical sense andnot necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus, although signaland/or state components of a file and/or an electronic document, forexample, are to be associated logically, storage thereof, for example,may reside in one or more different places in a tangible, physicalmemory, in an embodiment.

In the context of the present patent application, the terms “entry,”“electronic entry,” “document,” “electronic document,” “content,”,“digital content,” “item,” and/or similar terms are meant to refer tosignals and/or states in a physical format, such as a digital signaland/or digital state format, e.g., that may be perceived by a user ifdisplayed, played, tactilely generated, etc. and/or otherwise executedby a device, such as a digital device, including, for example, acomputing device, but otherwise might not necessarily be readilyperceivable by humans (e.g., if in a digital format). Likewise, in thecontext of the present patent application, digital content provided to auser in a form so that the user is able to readily perceive theunderlying content itself (e.g., content presented in a form consumableby a human, such as hearing audio, feeling tactile sensations and/orseeing images, as examples) is referred to, with respect to the user, as“consuming” digital content, “consumption” of digital content,“consumable” digital content and/or similar terms. For one or moreembodiments, an electronic document and/or an electronic file maycomprise a Web page of code (e.g., computer instructions) in a markuplanguage executed or to be executed by a computing and/or networkingdevice, for example. In another embodiment, an electronic documentand/or electronic file may comprise a portion and/or a region of a Webpage. However, claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited inthese respects.

Also, for one or more embodiments, an electronic document and/orelectronic file may comprise a number of components. As previouslyindicated, in the context of the present patent application, a componentis physical, but is not necessarily tangible. As an example, componentswith reference to an electronic document and/or electronic file, in oneor more embodiments, may comprise text, for example, in the form ofphysical signals and/or physical states (e.g., capable of beingphysically displayed). Typically, memory states, for example, comprisetangible components, whereas physical signals are not necessarilytangible, although signals may become (e.g., be made) tangible, such asif appearing on a tangible display, for example, as is not uncommon.Also, for one or more embodiments, components with reference to anelectronic document and/or electronic file may comprise a graphicalobject, such as, for example, an image, such as a digital image, and/orsub-objects, including attributes thereof, which, again, comprisephysical signals and/or physical states (e.g., capable of being tangiblydisplayed). In an embodiment, digital content may comprise, for example,text, images, audio, video, and/or other types of electronic documentsand/or electronic files, including portions thereof, for example.

Also, in the context of the present patent application, the termparameters (e.g., one or more parameters) refer to material descriptiveof a collection of signal samples, such as one or more electronicdocuments and/or electronic files, and exist in the form of physicalsignals and/or physical states, such as memory states. For example, oneor more parameters, such as referring to an electronic document and/oran electronic file comprising an image, may include, as examples, timeof day at which an image was captured, latitude and longitude of animage capture device, such as a camera, for example, etc. In anotherexample, one or more parameters relevant to digital content, such asdigital content comprising a technical article, as an example, mayinclude one or more authors, for example. Claimed subject matter isintended to embrace meaningful, descriptive parameters in any format, solong as the one or more parameters comprise physical signals and/orstates, which may include, as parameter examples, collection name (e.g.,electronic file and/or electronic document identifier name), techniqueof creation, purpose of creation, time and date of creation, logicalpath if stored, coding formats (e.g., type of computer instructions,such as a markup language) and/or standards and/or specifications usedso as to be protocol compliant (e.g., meaning substantially compliantand/or substantially compatible) for one or more uses, and so forth.

Signal packet communications and/or signal frame communications, alsoreferred to as signal packet transmissions and/or signal frametransmissions (or merely “signal packets” or “signal frames”), may becommunicated between nodes of a network, where a node may comprise oneor more network devices and/or one or more computing devices, forexample. As an illustrative example, but without limitation, a node maycomprise one or more sites employing a local network address, such as ina local network address space. Likewise, a device, such as a networkdevice and/or a computing device, may be associated with that node. Itis also noted that in the context of this patent application, the term“transmission” is intended as another term for a type of signalcommunication that may occur in any one of a variety of situations.Thus, it is not intended to imply a particular directionality ofcommunication and/or a particular initiating end of a communication pathfor the “transmission” communication. For example, the mere use of theterm in and of itself is not intended, in the context of the presentpatent application, to have particular implications with respect to theone or more signals being communicated, such as, for example, whetherthe signals are being communicated “to” a particular device, whether thesignals are being communicated “from” a particular device, and/orregarding which end of a communication path may be initiatingcommunication, such as, for example, in a “push type” of signal transferor in a “pull type” of signal transfer. In the context of the presentpatent application, push and/or pull type signal transfers aredistinguished by which end of a communications path initiates signaltransfer.

Thus, a signal packet and/or frame may, as an example, be communicatedvia a communication channel and/or a communication path, such ascomprising a portion of the Internet and/or the Web, from a site via anaccess node coupled to the Internet or vice-versa. Likewise, a signalpacket and/or frame may be forwarded via network nodes to a target sitecoupled to a local network, for example. A signal packet and/or framecommunicated via the Internet and/or the Web, for example, may be routedvia a path, such as either being “pushed” or “pulled,” comprising one ormore gateways, servers, etc. that may, for example, route a signalpacket and/or frame, such as, for example, substantially in accordancewith a target and/or destination address and availability of a networkpath of network nodes to the target and/or destination address. Althoughthe Internet and/or the Web comprise a network of interoperablenetworks, not all of those interoperable networks are necessarilyavailable and/or accessible to the public.

In the context of the particular patent application, a network protocol,such as for communicating between devices of a network, may becharacterized, at least in part, substantially in accordance with alayered description, such as the so-called Open Systems Interconnection(OSI) seven layer type of approach and/or description. A networkcomputing and/or communications protocol (also referred to as a networkprotocol) refers to a set of signaling conventions, such as forcommunication transmissions, for example, as may take place betweenand/or among devices in a network. In the context of the present patentapplication, the term “between” and/or similar terms are understood toinclude “among” if appropriate for the particular usage and vice-versa.Likewise, in the context of the present patent application, the terms“compatible with,” “comply with” and/or similar terms are understood torespectively include substantial compatibility and/or substantialcompliance.

A network and/or sub-network, in an embodiment, may communicate viasignal packets and/or signal frames, such as via participating digitaldevices and may be substantially compliant and/or substantiallycompatible with, but is not limited to, now known and/or to bedeveloped, versions of any of the following network protocol stacks:ARCNET, AppleTalk, ATM, Bluetooth, DECnet, Ethernet, FDDI, Frame Relay,HIPPI, IEEE 1394, IEEE 802.11, IEEE-488, Internet Protocol Suite, IPX,Myrinet, OSI Protocol Suite, QsNet, RS-232, SPX, System NetworkArchitecture, Token Ring, USB, and/or X.25. A network and/or sub-networkmay employ, for example, a version, now known and/or later to bedeveloped, of the following: TCP/IP, UDP, DECnet, NetBEUI, IPX,AppleTalk and/or the like. Versions of the Internet Protocol (IP) mayinclude IPv4, IPv6, and/or other later to be developed versions.

Regarding aspects related to a network, including a communicationsand/or computing network, a wireless network may couple devices,including client devices, with the network. A wireless network mayemploy stand-alone, ad-hoc networks, mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN)networks, cellular networks, and/or the like. A wireless network mayfurther include a system of terminals, gateways, routers, and/or thelike coupled by wireless radio links, and/or the like, which may movefreely, randomly and/or organize themselves arbitrarily, such thatnetwork topology may change, at times even rapidly. A wireless networkmay further employ a plurality of network access technologies, includinga version of Long Term Evolution (LTE), WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh,2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation (2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G) cellular technologyand/or the like, whether currently known and/or to be later developed.Network access technologies may enable wide area coverage for devices,such as computing devices and/or network devices, with varying degreesof mobility, for example.

A network may enable radio frequency and/or other wireless typecommunications via a wireless network access technology and/or airinterface, such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), General Packet RadioServices (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB), 802.11b/g/n, and/or the like.A wireless network may include virtually any type of now known and/or tobe developed wireless communication mechanism and/or wirelesscommunications protocol by which signals may be communicated betweendevices, between networks, within a network, and/or the like, includingthe foregoing, of course.

In example embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, a system embodiment maycomprise a local network (e.g., device 1802 and medium 1840) and/oranother type of network, such as a computing and/or communicationsnetwork. For purposes of illustration, therefore, FIG. 8 shows anembodiment 1800 of a system that may be employed to implement eithertype or both types of networks. A network may comprise one or morenetwork connections, links, processes, services, applications, and/orresources to facilitate and/or support communications, such as anexchange of communication signals, for example, between a computingdevice, such as device 1802, and another computing device, such as 1804,which may, for example, comprise one or more client computing devicesand/or one or more server computing device.

Example devices in FIG. 8 may comprise features, for example, of acomputing devices to implement a reader device (e.g., reader device 102,FIG. 1A) and/or a transponder device (e.g., transponder device 104, FIG.1A), in an embodiment. It is further noted that the term computingdevice, in general, whether employed as a client and/or as a server, orotherwise, refers at least to a processor and a memory connected by acommunication bus. A “processor” or “processing unit,” for example, isunderstood to connote a specific structure such as a central processingunit (CPU) of a computing device which may include a control unit and anexecution unit. In an aspect, a processor may comprise a device thatinterprets and executes instructions to process input signals to provideoutput signals. As such, in the context of the present patentapplication at least, computing device and/or processor are understoodto refer to sufficient structure within the meaning of 35 USC § 112 (f)so that it is specifically intended that 35 USC § 112 (f) not beimplicated by use of the term “computing device,” “processor” and/orsimilar terms; however, if it is determined, for some reason notimmediately apparent, that the foregoing understanding cannot stand andthat 35 USC § 112 (f), therefore, necessarily is implicated by the useof the term “computing device,” “processor” and/or similar terms, then,it is intended, pursuant to that statutory section, that correspondingstructure, material and/or acts for performing one or more functions beunderstood and be interpreted to be described at least in FIGS. 2A, 2B,2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7, and in the text associated with theforegoing FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7 of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example system 1800 thatmay include one or more devices configurable to implement techniques orprocesses described above, for example, in connection with FIGS. 2A, 2B,2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7. System 1800 may include, for example, afirst device 1802, a second device 1804, and a third device 1806, whichmay be operatively coupled together through a wireless communicationstechniques described above.

First device 1802, second device 1804 and third device 1806, as shown inFIG. 8, may be representative of any device, appliance or machine thatmay be configurable to exchange signals and/or messages over a wirelesscommunications network. By way of example but not limitation, any offirst device 1802, second device 1804, or third device 1806 may include:one or more computing devices or platforms, such as, e.g., a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, a workstation, a server device, or thelike; one or more personal computing or communication devices orappliances, such as, e.g., a personal digital assistant, mobilecommunication device, or the like; a computing system or associatedservice provider capability, such as, e.g., a database or data storageservice provider/system, a network service provider/system, an Internetor intranet service provider/system, a portal or search engine serviceprovider/system, a wireless communication service provider/system; orany combination thereof. Any of the first, second, and third devices1802, 1804, and 1806, respectively, may comprise one or more of a readerdevice or a transponder device in accordance with the examples describedherein.

Similarly, a wireless communications network, as shown in FIG. 8, may berepresentative of one or more communication links, processes, orresources configurable to support the exchange of signals and/ormessages between at least two of first device 1802, second device 1804,and third device 1806. By way of example but not limitation, a wirelesscommunications network may include wireless or wired communicationlinks, telephone or telecommunications systems, data buses or channels,optical fibers, terrestrial or space vehicle resources, local areanetworks, wide area networks, intranets, the Internet, routers orswitches, and the like, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment,wireless communication links in a wireless communication link may enableone or more signal messaging formats set forth in one or more ISO/IES18000 conventions.

It is recognized that all or part of the various devices and networksshown in FIG. 8, and the processes and methods as further describedherein, may be implemented using or otherwise including hardware,firmware, software, or any combination thereof.

Thus, by way of example but not limitation, first device 1802 mayinclude at least one processing unit 1820 that is operatively coupled toa memory 1822 through a bus 1828. Likewise, second device 1804 mayinclude at least one processing unit 1860 that is operatively coupled toa memory 1872 through a bus 1868.

Processing unit 1820 and/or processing unit 1860 may be representativeof one or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of acomputing procedure or process. By way of example but not limitation,processing unit 1820 and/or processing unit 1860 may include one or moreprocessors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, applicationspecific integrated circuits, digital signal processors, programmablelogic devices, field programmable gate arrays, and the like, or anycombination thereof.

Memory 1822 and/or memory 1872 may be representative of any mechanismfor use in storing executable instructions, input/output values,parameters, measurements and/or symbols, etc. Memory 1822 may include,for example, a primary memory 1824 or a secondary memory 1826. Likewise,memory 1872 may include, for example, a primary memory 1864 or asecondary memory 1866. Primary memory 1824 and/or 1864 may include, forexample, a random access memory, read only memory, non-volatile memory,etc. While illustrated in this example as being separate from processingunit 1820, it should be understood that all or part of primary memory1824 may be provided within or otherwise co-located/coupled withprocessing unit 1820. Likewise, it should be understood that all or partof primary memory 1864 may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with processing unit 1860. In a particularimplementation, memory 1822 and processing unit 1820, and/or memory 1872and processing unit 1860 may be configured to execute one or moreaspects of process discussed above in connection with FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C,3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7.

Secondary memory 1826 and/or 1866 may include, for example, the same orsimilar type of memory as primary memory or one or more storage devicesor systems, such as, for example, a disk drive, an optical disc drive, atape drive, a solid state memory drive, etc. In certain implementations,secondary memory 1826 may be operatively receptive of, or otherwiseconfigurable to couple to, a computer-readable medium 1840.Computer-readable medium 1840 may include, for example, anynon-transitory medium that can carry or make accessible data, code orinstructions for one or more of the devices in system 1800.Computer-readable medium 1840 may also be referred to as a storagemedium.

First device 1802 may include a communication interface 1830 and seconddevice 1804 may include a communication interface 1870 that provide foror otherwise supports an operative coupling of first device 1802 andsecond device 1804 at least through antennas 1808 and 1848. By way ofexample but not limitation, communication interface 1830 and/or 1870 mayinclude a network interface device or card, a modem, a router, a switch,a transceiver, and the like. In other alternative implementations,communication interface 1830 and/or 1870 may comprise a wired/LANinterface, wireless LAN interface (e.g., IEEE std. 802.11 wirelessinterface) and/or a wide area network (WAN) air interface. In aparticular implementation, communication interface 1830 and/or 1870 mayinclude circuitry to enable an exchange of messages according to one ormore signal messaging formats set forth in one or more ISO/IES 18000conventions. In a particular implementation, antenna 1808 in combinationwith communication interface 1830, and antenna 1840 in combination withcommunication interface 1870 may be used to implement transmission andreception of signals as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B,4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7.

According to an embodiment, second device 1804 may further comprisesensors 1891 which may comprise, for example, a light sensor and/ortemperature sensor (e.g., embedded in a smart food label) capable ofgenerating signals representative of measurements and/or observations ofparticular conditions. In addition, second device 1804 may comprisedisplay label 1873 to display values computed at processing unit 1860.Display label 1873 may comprise, for example, via printed e-ink display.Such values displayed on and/or through display label 1873 may comprisevalues computed at processing unit 1860 based, at least in part, onsignals representative of measurements and/or observations obtained fromsensors 1891. Second device 1804 may also comprise circuitry and/orstructures (not shown) for collecting and/or harvesting energy and/orpower from a signal received at antenna 1848 (e.g., RF signal 110) suchas, for example, charge pumps employing Dickson and/or cross-coupleddoublers as described in “Power Supply Generation in CMOS Passive UHFRFID Tags,” Alessio Facen and Andrea Boni, 2006 Ph.D. Research inMicroelectronics and Electronics, IEEE Xplore, 11 Sep. 2006 and/ordescribed in “Self-Biased Differential Rectifier With Enhanced DynamicRange for Wireless Powering,” Mahmoud H. Ouda, Waleed Khalil and KhaledN. Salama, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs,Vol. 64, No. 5, May 2017, for example. As pointed out above, such energycollected and/or harvested from a signal received at antenna 1848 may beused for powering subsystems of second device 1804. Such subsystems ofsecond device 1804 may include, for example, communication interface1870, time reference unit 1890, sensors 1891, processing unit 1860,label display 1873 and/or memory 1872. It should be understood, however,that these are merely examples of subsystems of a device that may bepowered based, at least in part, from energy harvested and/or collectedfrom an RF signal received at an antenna, and claimed subject matter isnot limited in this respect.

As suggested previously, communications between a computing deviceand/or a network device and a wireless network may be in accordance withknown and/or to be developed network protocols including, for example,global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rate forGSM evolution (EDGE), 802.11b/g/n/h, etc., and/or worldwideinteroperability for microwave access (WiMAX). A computing device and/ora networking device may also have a subscriber identity module (SIM)card, which, for example, may comprise a detachable or embedded smartcard that is able to store subscription content of a user, and/or isalso able to store a contact list. It is noted, however, that a SIM cardmay also be electronic, meaning that is may simply be stored in aparticular location in memory of the computing and/or networking device.A user may own the computing device and/or network device or mayotherwise be a user, such as a primary user, for example. A device maybe assigned an address by a wireless network operator, a wired networkoperator, and/or an Internet Service Provider (ISP). For example, anaddress may comprise a domestic or international telephone number, anInternet Protocol (IP) address, and/or one or more other identifiers. Inother embodiments, a computing and/or communications network may beembodied as a wired network, wireless network, or any combinationsthereof.

A computing and/or network device may include and/or may execute avariety of now known and/or to be developed operating systems,derivatives and/or versions thereof, including computer operatingsystems, such as Windows, iOS, Linux, a mobile operating system, such asiOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and/or the like. A computing device and/ornetwork device may include and/or may execute a variety of possibleapplications, such as a client software application enablingcommunication with other devices. For example, one or more messages(e.g., content) may be communicated, such as via one or more protocols,now known and/or later to be developed, suitable for communication ofemail, short message service (SMS), and/or multimedia message service(MMS), including via a network, such as a social network, formed atleast in part by a portion of a computing and/or communications network,including, but not limited to, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and/orFlickr, to provide only a few examples. A computing and/or networkdevice may also include executable computer instructions to processand/or communicate digital content, such as, for example, textualcontent, digital multimedia content, and/or the like. A computing and/ornetwork device may also include executable computer instructions toperform a variety of possible tasks, such as browsing, searching,playing various forms of digital content, including locally storedand/or streamed video, and/or games such as, but not limited to, fantasysports leagues. The foregoing is provided merely to illustrate thatclaimed subject matter is intended to include a wide range of possiblefeatures and/or capabilities.

In FIG. 8, first device 1802 and/or second device 1804 may provide oneor more sources of executable computer instructions in the form physicalstates and/or signals (e.g., stored in memory states), for example.First device 1802 may communicate with second device 1804 by way of anetwork connection, such as by uplink and downlink signals (e.g., uplinksignal 122 and downlink signal 124, FIG. 1A), for example. As previouslymentioned, a connection, while physical, may not necessarily betangible. Although first and second devices 1802 and 1804 of FIG. 8 showvarious tangible, physical components, claimed subject matter is notlimited to a computing devices having only these tangible components asother implementations and/or embodiments may include alternativearrangements that may comprise additional tangible components or fewertangible components, for example, that function differently whileachieving similar results. Rather, examples are provided merely asillustrations. It is not intended that claimed subject matter be limitedin scope to illustrative examples.

Memory 1822 and/or 1872 may comprise any non-transitory storagemechanism. Memory 1822/1872 may comprise, for example, primary memory1824/1864 and secondary memory 1826/1866, additional memory circuits,mechanisms, or combinations thereof may be used. Memory 1822 and/ormemory 1872 may comprise, for example, random access memory,non-volatile memory, read only memory, etc., such as in the form of oneor more storage devices and/or systems, such as, for example, a diskdrive including an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid-statememory drive, etc., just to name a few examples.

Memory 1822 and/or 1872 may be utilized to store a program of executablecomputer instructions. For example, processor 1820 and/or processor 1860may fetch executable instructions from memory and proceed to execute thefetched instructions. Memory 1822 may also comprise a memory controllerfor accessing device readable-medium 640 that may carry and/or makeaccessible digital content, which may include code, and/or instructions,for example, executable by processor 1820 and/or some other device, suchas a controller, as one example, capable of executing computerinstructions, for example. Under direction of processor 1820, anon-transitory memory, such as memory cells storing physical states(e.g., memory states), comprising, for example, a program of executablecomputer instructions, may be executed by processor 1820 and able togenerate signals to be communicated via a network, for example, aspreviously described. Generated signals may also be stored in memory,also previously suggested.

Memory 1822 may store electronic files and/or electronic documents, suchas relating to one or more users, and may also comprise acomputer-readable medium that may carry and/or make accessible content,including code and/or instructions, for example, executable by processor1820 and/or some other device, such as a controller, as one example,capable of executing computer instructions, for example. As previouslymentioned, the term electronic file and/or the term electronic documentare used throughout this document to refer to a set of stored memorystates and/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner so as tothereby form an electronic file and/or an electronic document. That is,it is not meant to implicitly reference a particular syntax, formatand/or approach used, for example, with respect to a set of associatedmemory states and/or a set of associated physical signals. It is furthernoted an association of memory states, for example, may be in a logicalsense and not necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus, althoughsignal and/or state components of an electronic file and/or electronicdocument, are to be associated logically, storage thereof, for example,may reside in one or more different places in a tangible, physicalmemory, in an embodiment.

Algorithmic descriptions and/or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processingand/or related arts to convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. An algorithm is, in the context of the presentpatent application, and generally, is considered to be a self-consistentsequence of operations and/or similar signal processing leading to adesired result. In the context of the present patent application,operations and/or processing involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities maytake the form of electrical and/or magnetic signals and/or statescapable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, processedand/or otherwise manipulated, for example, as electronic signals and/orstates making up components of various forms of digital content, such assignal measurements, text, images, video, audio, etc.

It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of commonusage, to refer to such physical signals and/or physical states as bits,values, elements, parameters, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,numerals, measurements, content and/or the like. It should beunderstood, however, that all of these and/or similar terms are to beassociated with appropriate physical quantities and are merelyconvenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparentfrom the preceding discussion, it is appreciated that throughout thisspecification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining”, “establishing”, “obtaining”,“identifying”, “selecting”, “generating”, and/or the like may refer toactions and/or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a specialpurpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computing and/ornetwork device. In the context of this specification, therefore, aspecial purpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computingand/or network device is capable of processing, manipulating and/ortransforming signals and/or states, typically in the form of physicalelectronic and/or magnetic quantities, within memories, registers,and/or other storage devices, processing devices, and/or display devicesof the special purpose computer and/or similar special purpose computingand/or network device. In the context of this particular patentapplication, as mentioned, the term “specific apparatus” thereforeincludes a general purpose computing and/or network device, such as ageneral purpose computer, once it is programmed to perform particularfunctions, such as pursuant to program software instructions.

In some circumstances, operation of a memory device, such as a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa, for example, maycomprise a transformation, such as a physical transformation. Withparticular types of memory devices, such a physical transformation maycomprise a physical transformation of an article to a different state orthing. For example, but without limitation, for some types of memorydevices, a change in state may involve an accumulation and/or storage ofcharge or a release of stored charge. Likewise, in other memory devices,a change of state may comprise a physical change, such as atransformation in magnetic orientation. Likewise, a physical change maycomprise a transformation in molecular structure, such as fromcrystalline form to amorphous form or vice-versa. In still other memorydevices, a change in physical state may involve quantum mechanicalphenomena, such as, superposition, entanglement, and/or the like, whichmay involve quantum bits (qubits), for example. The foregoing is notintended to be an exhaustive list of all examples in which a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa in a memorydevice may comprise a transformation, such as a physical, butnon-transitory, transformation. Rather, the foregoing is intended asillustrative examples.

Referring again to FIG. 8, processor 1820 and/or 1860 may comprise oneor more circuits, such as digital circuits, to perform at least aportion of a computing procedure and/or process. By way of example, butnot limitation, processor 1820 and/or 1860 may comprise one or moreprocessors, such as controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers,application specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors,programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, the like, orany combination thereof. In various implementations and/or embodiments,processor 1820 and/or 1860 may perform signal processing, typicallysubstantially in accordance with fetched executable computerinstructions, such as to manipulate signals and/or states, to constructsignals and/or states, etc., with signals and/or states generated insuch a manner to be communicated and/or stored in memory, for example.

In the preceding description, various aspects of claimed subject matterhave been described. For purposes of explanation, specifics, such asamounts, systems and/or configurations, as examples, were set forth. Inother instances, well-known features were omitted and/or simplified soas not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features havebeen illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications,substitutions, changes and/or equivalents will now occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all modifications and/or changes as fallwithin claimed subject matter.

While there has been illustrated and described what are presentlyconsidered to be example features, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, andequivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subjectmatter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it isintended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particularexamples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may alsoinclude all aspects falling within the scope of the appended claims, andequivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method at a transponder device, comprising:collecting and/or harvesting energy and/or power from a receivedincident power signal; generating one or more signals from sensingcircuitry responsive to one or more physical conditions; performingcomputing operations to process the one or more signals generated by thesensing circuitry; and varying the computing operations to be performedto process the one or more signals generated by the sensing circuitryand/or varying operations to generate the one or more signals from thesensing circuitry based, at least in part, on an availability of energyand/or power that is collectable and/or harvestable from the receivedincident power signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, and further comprisingdisplaying on a label one or more computational results based, at leastin part, on the computing operations.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinvarying the operations to generate the one or more signals from the oneor more sensors comprises varying a number of observations and/or rateof observations to be obtained from the sensing circuitry over aduration.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein varying the computingoperations to be performed to process the one or more signals generatedby the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generate the one or moresignals from the one or more sensors comprises selecting one or morealgorithms to be applied in processing the one or more signals generatedby the sensing circuitry based, at least in part, on the availability ofenergy and/or power collectable and/or harvestable from the receivedincident power signal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein varyingcomputing operations to be performed to process the one or more signalsgenerated by the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generate the oneor more signals from the one or more sensors comprises varying a cyclicredundancy check, varying a number of iterations of a processing loop,varying a processor vector-length, selecting between use of fixed-pointoperations and use of floating-point operations or selecting between useof multi-cycle operations and use of single-cycle acceleratedoperations, or a combination thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, andfurther comprising determining the availability of energy and/or powercollectable and/or harvestable from the received incident power signalbased, at least in part, on an intensity and/or duration of a pulse ofthe received incident power signal.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinvarying computing operations to be performed to process the one or moresignals generated by the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generatethe one or more signals from the one or more sensors further comprises:storing in a non-volatile memory device observations, samples and/ormeasurements obtained based, at least in part, on the one or moresignals generated by the sensing circuitry powered by energy collectedand/or harvested from a first pulse of the received incident powersignal; and powered by energy collected and/or harvested from a secondpulse of the received incident power signal, performing computingoperations to process the stored observations, samples and/ormeasurements and to process observations, samples and/or measurementsobtained based, at least in part, on the one or more signals generatedby the sensing circuitry powered by the energy collected and/orharvested from the second pulse of the received incident power signal.8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising storing in thenon-volatile memory device at least partial computations based, at leastin part, on the obtained observations, samples and/or measurementsand/or a processor state.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: theoperations to generate the one or more signals by the sensing circuitrycomprise obtaining observations, samples and/or measurementscontemporaneously with receipt of respective pulses of the incidentpower signal powered by energy and/or power collected and/or harvestedfrom receipt of the respective pulses, and wherein the method furthercomprises: obtaining a message from an initial pulse of the incidentpower signal, the message comprising an indication of a number ofobservations, samples and/or measurements to be obtained from the one ormore signals generated by the sensing circuitry over a subsequentduration; and varying, over one or more pulses of the incident powersignal to be received over the subsequent duration, the computations tobe performed and/or the operations to generate the one or more signalsfrom the sensor circuitry based, at least in part, on the indication ofthe number and an expected availability of collectable and/orharvestable energy and/or power to be incident from receipt of one ormore pulses of the incident power signal transmitted over the subsequentduration.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of thenumber of observations, samples and/or measurements to be obtained fromthe one or more signals generated by the sensing circuitry over thesubsequent duration specifies an average number of observations, samplesand/or measurements to be obtained and/or a minimum number ofobservations, samples and/or measurements to be obtainedcontemporaneously with receipt per pulse of the incident power signal.11. A transponder device comprising: circuitry to collect and/or harvestenergy and/or power from a received incident power signal; sensingcircuitry to generate one or more signals responsive to one or morephysical conditions; one or more processors to perform computingoperations to process the one or more signals generated by the sensingcircuitry; and circuitry to vary the computing operations to beperformed by the one or more processors to process the one or moresignals generated by the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generatethe one or more signals from the sensing circuitry based, at least inpart, on an availability of energy and/or power collectable and/orharvestable from the received incident power signal.
 12. The transponderdevice of claim 11, and further comprising a display device formed on alabel, and wherein the one or more processors are further to initiatedisplay of a computing result on the display device determined, at leastin part, based on the computing operations.
 13. The transponder deviceof claim 11, wherein the circuitry to vary computing operations to beperformed by the one or more processors to process the one or moresignals generated by the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generatethe one or more signals from the sensing circuitry to vary a number ofobservations and/or rate of observations to be obtained from the sensingcircuitry over a duration.
 14. The transponder device of claim 11,wherein the circuitry to vary computing operations to be performed bythe one or more processors to process the one or more signals generatedby the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generate the one or moresignals from the sensing circuitry to select one or more algorithms tobe applied in processing the one or more signals generated by thesensing circuitry based, at least in part, on the availability of energyand/or power collected and/or harvested from the received incident powersignal.
 15. The transponder device of claim 11, wherein the circuitry tovary computing operations to be performed by the one or more processorsto process the one or more signals generated by the sensing circuitryand/or operations to generate the one or more signals from the sensingcircuitry to vary a cyclic redundancy check, vary a number of iterationsof a processing loop, vary a processor vector-length, select between useof fixed-point operations and use of floating-point operations or selectbetween use of multi-cycle operations and use of single-cycleaccelerated operations, or a combination thereof.
 16. The transponderdevice of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further todetermine the availability of energy and/or power collected and/orharvested from the received incident power signal based, at least inpart, on an intensity and/or duration of a pulse of the receivedincident power signal.
 17. The transponder device of claim 11, andfurther comprising a non-volatile memory device, and wherein the one ormore processors are further to: store in the non-volatile memory deviceobservations, samples and/or measurements obtained based, at least inpart, on the one or more signals generated by the sensing circuitrypowered by energy collected and/or harvested from a first pulse of thereceived incident power signal; and powered by energy collected and/orharvested from a second pulse of the received incident power signal,perform computing operations to process the stored observations, samplesand/or measurements and to process observations, samples and/ormeasurements obtained based, at least in part, on the one or moresignals generated by the sensing circuitry powered by the energycollected and/or harvested from the second pulse of the receivedincident power signal.
 18. The transponder device of claim 11, wherein:operations to generate the one or more signals by the sensing circuitrycomprise operations to obtain observations, samples and/or measurementscontemporaneously with receipt of respective pulses of the incidentpower signal powered by energy and/or power collected and/or harvestedfrom receipt of the respective pulses, and wherein: the one or moreprocessors are further to obtain a message from an initial pulse of theincident power signal, the message to include an indication of a numberof observations, samples and/or measurements to be obtained from the oneor more signals generated by the sensing circuitry over a subsequentduration; and circuitry to vary computing operations to be performed bythe one or more processors to process the one or more signals generatedby the sensing circuitry and/or operations to generate the one or moresignals from the sensing circuitry to vary, over one or more pulses ofthe incident power signal to be received over the subsequent duration,the computations to be performed and/or the operations to generate theone or more signals from the sensor circuitry based, at least in part,on the indication of the number and an expected availability ofcollectable and/or harvestable energy and/or power to be incident fromreceipt of one or more pulses of the incident power signal transmittedover the subsequent duration.
 19. The transponder device of claim 17,wherein the indication of the number of observations, samples and/ormeasurements to be obtained from the one or more signals generated bythe sensing circuitry over the subsequent duration to specify an averagenumber of observations, samples and/or measurements to be obtainedand/or a minimum number of observations, samples and/or measurements tobe obtained contemporaneously with receipt per pulse of the incidentpower signal.
 20. A device comprising: a transmitter to transmit a powersignal; and one or more processors to: control the transmitter totransmit the power signal to be incident at a transponder device toprovide collectable and/or harvestable energy and/or power at thetransponder device, the power signal to comprise a series of scheduledpulses; and selectively pre-terminate transmission of a scheduled pulsein the series of scheduled pulses responsive at least in part to adetermination that collectable and/or harvestable energy and/or powerfrom the scheduled pulse to be incident at the transponder device to beinsufficient for the transponder device to achieve a particularcomputing result.